Thread picker for vacuum-cleaner nozzles



Feb. 13, 1940. I L R 2,190,329

THREAD PICKER FOR VACUUM-CLEANER NOZZLES Filed Oct. 21, 1956 IN VENTOR.

' criticism of carpet Patented Feb. 13, 1940 PATENTQOFFIC'E 2,190,329 THREAD PICKER non VACUUM-OLEANER I NOZZLES 1 Ward Leathers, Haworth, N. 3., assignor to Quadrex Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware --Application October 21, 1936, Serial l lo 106,763

4 Claims. The objectof my'invention is to produce a means, of picking up threads, ravelings, and other tightly embedded bits of litter in. rugs and carpets.

Vacuum cleaners equipped with motor-driven rotary-brushes have the advantage of picking up such superficial dirt in a more satisfactory manner than plain nozzle cleaners. Plain nozzle cleaners have some advantages indeeper cleaning and less wear and tear on rugs and carpets. Besides, that class of vacuum cleaner wherein the motor-suction-unit is ,made integral with the handle is lighter and more mobile, and for mechanical reasons the plain. nozzle construction is more adaptable. My thread picker is particularly suited to this latter type of machine.

With plain nozzle cleaners, where the nozzle edges or strokers are given sufficient tooth to disengage these annoyingly tight bits of litter,

they are harder to push and subject to the injury.v Teeth in such strokers sufliciently sharp to disengage all such tight clinging litter would be injurious to rugs and carpets. a

My invention provides a thread-picker which permits smooth strokers edges on the sides of the nozzle so that no injury can be done to carpets and it makes it possible for teeth sufliclently sharp to disengage any litterto come into use when needed. at the will of the operator in a manner almost unconscious to the operator and automatic to the machine.

With the type of vacuum cleaner especially referred to, changing the angle at which the handle of the machine is held changes the nozzle angle with the floor in the same degree. When the rigid type machine is used in the free and normal manner my thread picker presents a smooth surface to the carpet. -When clinging threads or litter are not disengaged by the free passage of the machine over them the operator unconsciously raises the handle and ap.

plies pressure to the nozzle. The functioning of my thread picker depends upon this natural action on the part of the operator. It consists primarily of teeth provided with a spring guard,

the guard yielding under pressure.

To make clear my invention I have prepared the following specification to which I have appended a drawing, of which: I

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of a nozzle taken at the side of the tubular center portion normally joined to or integral with the fan housing of the motor suction element of a vacuum cleaner.

20 is rigidly joined toa handle 2|.

Figure 2 is aside elevation of a rigid type cleaner showing its operating positions.

Figures 3 and 4 diagrammatically illustrate retractable nozzle wheels.

Figure 5 illustrates a thread picker tooth strip.

Figure 6 illustrates the spring guard in flat or blank form.

A metal nozzle or nozzle frame I, Figure l. is

. so designed that to the inner side of the forward [edge a hardened steel piece 2 may be joined as the nozzle is pressed downward by the operator I for greater agitation or for cleaning low pile carpet the floor line moves upward to' a position shown in dotted lines 9. Any type of vacuum cleaner where downward pressure may be applied to the nozzle by the operator could be equipped with this thread picker in practical form. However, greater advantages and practicability of use are available when my thread picker is applied to a rigid handle type machine (as illustrated in Figure 2). When the handle of the machine is raised to a greater angle with the floor because the operator wishes to push the nozzle closer into the carpet in an instinctive action the floor line assumes a position l0 and with the wheel retracted moves to a position shown in dotted line II. It will be noted that particularly in this last position the pressure of the carpet pile presses the spring guard 3 to the position shown in dotted lines exposing the teeth of the thread picker. When the pressure is released the guard returns to its normal posi tion aiding in cleaning the teeth.

Referring to Figure 2. A motor-suction-unit Surrounding the handle is a filter sleeve 22 which communicat-es at its bottom side with a dirt receptacle 23 Figure 3 diagrammatically illustrates the type of iioor wheel which is carried by aspindle 3!) supported on both ends by a bow or housing 3! held downward by a spring 32;

. disposed around the handle and adjacent tothe up draught dirt-laden air duct 24.

Figure 4 diagrammatically illustrates a yield- 59 able or retractable wheel mounted on a free-end spindle carried by a shank 35 held downward by a spring 36.

Figure shows the tooth structure of the part 2. Figure 6 shows the blank form of the spring guard 3. It has been found highly practical to make this tooth and spring guard portion of the nozzle a middle section in the forward edge of the nozzle. It may, however, be extended the full width of the nozzle if desired.

Having set forth my invention in clear and simple form, it should be noted that many variations and modifications required by the character of the nozzle and the machine to which it is applied can be provided by those familiar with these arts without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim: l

1. In a vacuum-cleaner nozzle having an elon gated air-inlet slot, forward and rearward carpetcontacting lips defining the long sides of said slot, all the foregoing disposed transversely to the direction of motion of the nozzle when in use, a row of teeth afiixed to one of the long sides of said slot but not in normalcleaning engagement with the carpet nap and so positioned that the tips of the teeth are substantially horizontally aligned with, and adjacent to, one of said lips, the said lip affixed to the same said long side and extending between the teeth, normally contacting the carpet undergoing cleaning, and being flexibly yieldable with respect to the nozzle andthe teeth when under more than usual upward pressure from the carpet when more than normal downward pressure is exerted by the operator, said yieldability permitting the said teeth to sink into the carpet nap when the said downward pressure is exerted.

2. In a vacuum-cleaner nozzle having an elongated air-inlet slot, forward and rearward carpetcontacting lips defining the long sides of said slot, all the foregoing disposed transversely to the direction of motion of the nozzle when in use, a row of teeth afiixed to one of the long sides of said slot but not in normal cleaning engagement with the carpet nap and so positioned that the tips of the teeth are substantially horizontally aligned with, and adjacent to, one of said lips, the said lip normally contacting the carpet under-' going cleaning, being flexibly yieldable with respect to the nozzle and the teeth when under more than usual upward pressiire from the ear pet when more than normal downward pressure is exerted by the operator, being joined to the same said long side, and having openings through which the said teeth project when the said pressure is exerted. n

3. In a vacuum-cleaner nozzlehaving an elongated air-inlet 'slot, forward and rearward carpetcontacting lips'definihg the long sides of said slot,.all the foregoing disposed transversely to the direction of motion of the nozzle when in use, a row of teeth. afiixed to one of the long sides of said slot but not innormal cleaning engagement with the carpet nap and so positioned that the tips of the teeth are substantially, horizontally,

aligned with and adjacent to one of said lips, the said lip being composed of a bent sheet .of spring metal affixed to the same said long side, normally contacting the carpet undergoing cleaning, and

being flexibly yieldable vertically with respect to the nozzle when under more than usual upward pressure from the carpet when more than usual downward pressure is exerted by the' operator, J

slot, said slot and lips disposed transversely Fto the direction of motion of: the nozzle when in use, a row of teeth affixed to one of the long sides'ofsaid slot but not in normal cleaning engagement with the carpet nap and so positioned that the tips of the teeth are substantially horizontally aligned with and adjacent to one of the said lips, thesaid lip beingaffixed to the same said long side, normally contacting the carpet undergoing cleaning, and being flexibly yieldable vertically with respect to the nozzle when under more than usual upward pressure from the carpet when more than normala'downward pressurej'is exerted by the operator, the yieldability of the said end wheels and thesaid lip functionally oooperating to permit the said teeth to sinkinto the carpet nap when the said downward pressure is exerted.

' WARD LEATHERS. 

